View full sizeDennis Nett / The the Post-StandardSyracuse's Michael Carter-Williams takes a jumper from the corner in warm ups prior to the OrangeÃ­s game against Louisville.

Michael Carter-Williams had spent the past three games as a Syracuse spectator.

The Orange freshman point guard did not play when SU defeated Louisville, Rutgers and the University of South Florida. In SU’s previous two games, he logged a total of four minutes.

But late Saturday night in Storrs, Conn., SU coach Jim Boeheim summoned Carter-Williams from the bench with 13 minutes and four seconds left in the first half against the home Huskies.

Carter-Williams subbed for Scoop Jardine. About two minutes and one media time out later, Carter-Williams caught a pass from Fab Melo at the top of the circle and fired from 3-point range.

The ball banked in. And Syracuse held a 17-10 early advantage in a game it would eventually win 71-69.

“I was tired, so I tried to use more legs,” he said. “I mean, it was right on. It wasn’t right or left, it was dead-center. I just used a little too much legs. But luckily it was able to go in.”

The rookie point guard, a former Rhode Island high school player of the year, said plenty of family and friends attended Saturday’s game in packed Gampel Pavilion. “It was nice to be able to play in front of them and do good in the game,” he said.

In his seven first-half minutes, Carter-Williams sank the 3-pointer, grabbed an offensive rebound, stole the ball and compiled two assists.

He made a nice pass inside to Melo, who converted to give SU a 19-10 lead. He then penetrated the UConn defense and again found Melo, this time with a lob pass. That score widened the Orange lead to 27-13.

Carter-Williams, who reacted angrily to a Boeheim criticism during the Connecticut home game, has acknowledged that his freshman season has been humbling. He was named to both the McDonald’s and Jordan high school all-star games. But he is learning, said Jardine, that young Orange players need to apply some patience and wait their turn.

As for his performance against UConn in Storrs?

“It was definitely a good experience,” Carter-Williams said. “It was exciting for me. I just tried to contribute to the team, whatever it was. I’m just happy for the team and I’m happy for Coach as well.”